Automatic circuit regulator



Nov. 22, 19270 1,650,320

, P. O. BRUWN AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT REGULATOR Filed Nov. 11. L925 .IZQLE- fnyen f0)? WEE/2) 0. BROWN 5) Q,IM

Patented Nov, 22, 192

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PERRY 0. BROWN, OF SI. VINCENT, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF Tl) G. V, BACKSTBOIVI, 036 ST. VINCENT, MINNESQTA.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT REGULATOR.

Application filed November lhe invention relates to improvements in circuit breakers or regulators by means of which a circuit is automatically broken and closed within a short period of time by the simple action or" an electromagnet upon an armature operating within the circuit; and the objects of the improvement are, first, to provide a more satisfactory means of pro tection to electric lights within their circuits; second, to replace the ttuse-block used in electric lighting circuits with an automatic controller which gives adequate protection to the lights, operates at less expense, and adords greater convenience in service; third, to afford facilities for the proper adjustmentot the device; fourth, to improve the construction and extend the usefulness of circuit-breakers generally; and fifth, to provide a circuit breaker which is simple in construction, easy to adjust, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention is called an automatic circuit regulator, and one form of the same is illustrated. in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention as it would appear when installed and in use; Figure 2, a vertical section of the same, showing all parts in plan view; and Figure 3, a plan view, incross-section, of insulation block 9 and 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

All parts of the invention are housed and supported by a cylindrical brass tube, whose upper end is closed and whose lower end is open; and in use the above mentioned device is attached to its place of support and supported by a hanger, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

111 Figure 2, 1 is the brass tube above mentioned; 2 the spool of an electromagnet; 3 the core of the said magnet; a a metal hanger by means of which the above named regulator is attached to its place of support; 5 the upper end of the core of the aforesaid magnet, the said end or" the said core being used as a bolt by means of which the circuit regulator above mentioned is attached to, and supported by, hanger 4:; 6 a nut which is screwed on to the end of bolt 5, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; 7 and 8, screws by means of which hanger 4: is attached to its place of support; 9 and 10, a cylindrical insulation block, 9 being a metal tube and 10, a glass cylinder or other iiisulation material fitted snugly into, and supported by, the said metal tube; 11., the hol- 11, 1925. Serial No. 68,305.

low part of tube 1; 12, a metallic armature which is constructed and installed as illustrated in Figure 2; 13 and 14;, copper conductors; 15 and 16, nuts used for holding conductors 13 and 14 securely in place; 17, a steel spring; 18, a nut by means of which the said spring may be tightened or loosened; 19, an attachment for the end of a circuit wire to conductor 13, and 20, a nut by means of which the said attachment is securely held in place; 21, an attachment of a circuit wire to conductor 14, and 22, a nutby means of which the same attachment is securely made; 23, a circuit wire coiled about magnet 2, 3, as shown in Figure 2; 24, a "fragmentary View of the place of support for the automatic circuit regulator.

Figure 3 is a plan View in cross section of the insulation block 9, 10, Figure 2. The metal band 9, Figures 2 and 3 constitutes a tube-shapcd outer wall used for housing and supporting the insulation block 10, Figures 2 and 3. The top part of tube 9 is threaded and likewise the inner walls or tube 1 are threaded at its lower or open end for some distance upward, thereby enabling the upper end of insulation block 9, 10 to be screwed into, and supported by, the lower end of the said tube.

In Figure 3, is a cylindrical opening in the insulation block 9, 10 and used to admit the stem of the upright armature 12, as illustrated in Figure 2; and 26 and 27 openings to admit the passage of conductors 13 and 14, as illustrated in the same figure.

llllagnet 2, 3, Figure 2, is similar in con struction to that in use in ordinary circuit breakers, except that the core of the said magnet consists of a mixture of soft iron and steel, for example, a structure wherein the core is formed from a plurality of sections, some of which are soft iron and some steel, but of course the mixture may be made in any other way, the purpose of the core, thus constructed, being to cause the magnet, or which the said core is a part, to give up its power gradually and continuously, thereby enabling the said magnet to hold its armature for a short period of time after the energizing circuit to the lights and to the magnet has been automatically broken by the power of the said magnet, when, through the action of spring 7, Figure 2, upon the armature 12, the said armature will be pulled Ell downward by the said spring, thereby automatically reclosing the circuit, at the instant the above mentioned magnet has weakened in power to that of the said spring.

The invention described above may be as sembled and installed as follows: Electromagnet 2, 3 is placed in position as shown in Figure 2, and securely attached to its housing 1 and to hanger 4: by nut 6, as illustrated in the same figure. Then the copper conductors 13 and 1 1 are pushed downward through the openings 26 and 27, Figures 2 and 3, and securely attached by nuts 15 and 16. Armature 12 is then pushed down in place through the opening 25, Figure 3, as illustrated in Figure 2; steel spring 17 is placed in position on the lower end of the said armature, and nut 18 is screwed on the lower end of the same armature, thereby holding the above mentioned armature and spring in place as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The insulation block 9, 10, with parts assembled as above described, is screwed into the lower end of tube 1, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The end of circuit wire 19 is attached to conductor 13 by means of nut 20, and end of circuit wire 21, to conductor 14 by means of nut 22.

After being assembled, as above described, the automatic circuit regulator is easily adjusted. Through the tension of spring 17, Figures 1 and 2, armature 12 may be pulled down from magnet 2, 3 within a given number of seconds, after the energizing circuit to the lights and to the said magnet has been broken, thereby automatically reclosing the said circuit. Since the power of magnet 2, 3 gradually and steadily decreases, after its energizing circuit has been broken, it is evident that, by means of nut 18, spring 17 may be so tensioned that the said magnet will be forced to release armature 12, within a prescribed number of seconds after the energizing circuit to the said magnet has been broken.

After being adjusted as above described, the above mentioned regulator may then be adjusted so as to break the circuit at the instant the strength of its current rises to a point of danger to the lights within the same circuit. This may be done by adjusting or bringing armature 12 to the proper distance from the lower end of magnet 2, 3. Since the insulation block 9, 10 is made to screw into the lower end of tube 1, armature 12 may be brought to the proper distance from 1nagnet 2, 3, by means of screwing in or out the said block.

The automatic circuit regulator, as above described, may be installed and used at any desirable place on electric lighting circuits, such as electric light pole-s, homes, ofiices, etc.

An electric current, coming from a generator, passes over circuit wire 19 through conductor 13, armature 12, conductor 1%, circuit wire 21 to the lights, returning over wire .43, which carries or conducts the current around the coils about magnet 2, 8, to the generator. the current in the above described circuit should become too great for the lights within the same circuit, magnet 2, 3 will then pull upward armature 12, thereby breaking the circuit; and when the said magnet had weakened to a certain point, armature 12 will be released by spring 17, thereby reclosing the circuit. In other words, by means of the above mentioned circuit controller, the circuit will be automatically broken at the proper time, and afterwards and within a few seconds, reclosed in a similar manner.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and on which I desire to secure Letters Patent is:

In circuit regulators of the class above described, the combination of devices by means of which the invention is adjusted, the said combination consisting of a cylindrical insulation block supporting an upright armature, two conductors, a steel spring coiled about the lower or external end of the said armature, and a nut screwed on a threaded end of the aforesaid armature, below and supporting the said spring, the said nut be ing used in the adjustment of the same spring, the insulation block, above mentioned, being threaded and screwed into the lower end of a housing of the invention, and used as a nut in the adjustment. of the aforesaid armature.

PERRY 0. BROWN.

If, for any reason the strength of 

